Covid 19 & Vaccinations
An additional 21 cases of Covid 19 have been registered in Sutton Coldfield for the week of 3rd- 9th April compared to an updated figure of 23 for the week of 27th March - 2nd April based on data from Birmingham City Council’s public health division.
The 7-day case rate between 3rd- 9th April in Birmingham is now 26.8 cases/100K population, compared to 46.6/100K for the period between 27th March - 2nd April.
Over the 7 days leading up to 10th April, of 13,644 PCR pillar 2 tests, 256 (1.9%) in Birmingham were positive, higher than the regional and national averages but lower than the week before.
Birmingham ranks 12th in the region for pillar 2 PCR tests, with 1,195 tests per 100k population. 50,240 lateral flow tests were also carried out.
Hospital admissions range between 2 and 10 new cases a day at University Hospitals Birmingham Trust over the 7 days from 3rd- 9th April.
The attached image shows an overview of vaccinations across different wards in Sutton Coldfield, based on the data that was available on Tuesday. In England all adults over 50, the clinically vulnerable and health and social care workers have now been offered a vaccine. The total number of vaccines administered so far (including second doses) has now reached over 41 million.
A UK trial looking at whether different vaccines can be used for first and second doses is being expanded. It is currently running in 9 locations including University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.
Royal Sutton Coldfield updates
It is great to see shops and businesses open again in our town centre following the easing of the restrictions on Monday. I am supporting the campaign to shop locally wherever possible to help our local shops and high streets.
On Thursday and Friday I was back in the Royal Town and as well as catching up with paperwork, emails and casework I have also been supporting Andy Street and Jay Singh Sohal in the Mayoral and PCC elections, as well as Vesey Ward Candidate Frank Eperjesi. Covid 19 has had an impact on the election campaigns, however, with the restrictions easing over recent weeks it has been good to be able to meet more people (socially distanced of course!)After a round of leafletting it was good to return to the Townhouse for some light refreshments in their beer garden with Cllrs Ewan Mackey and David Allan!
This week, Jay Singh-Sohal, our local Suttonian Police & Crime Commissioner candidate, announced plans to review the police headquarters in central Birmingham, with a view to ensuring more resources can be based out of our local police station in Sutton Coldfield, which he will stop from closing.
Westminster news and Parliamentary business
I am a supporter of the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign which is calling for additional support for cancer services in order the tackle the Covid 19 backlog. I have tabled a Written Parliamentary Question to ask the Health Secretary what steps the Government is taking to help reduce waiting times for cancer screening and testing in Sutton Coldfield.
Earlier this week I joined a roundtable for MPs on global education which covered a wide range of issues including the financing of education in lower-income countries.
Ahead of the launch of a new All-Party Parliamentary Group on War Crimes which I am co-chairing, I have written a short piece for Politics Home with Lord Mendelsohn about the importance of bringing to justice suspected perpetrators of the Rwandan genocide. Decades on, five people suspected of taking part in the genocide are living freely in the UK. https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/appg-war-crimes-rwanda-genocide
This week I have been catching up on my reading list and I have been enjoying The Diaries of Sir Henry “Chips” Channon. This excerpt from almost 85 years ago in May 1936 certainly shows the ways in which things have changed for MPs!
Opportunities and Events
Applications for Team England volunteers for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games open on Monday. www.teamengland.org/volunteering. For more information and to give potential applicants the chance to ask any questions a 30 minute virtual information session will take place on Friday 23rd April at 2pm. To register for the session, please sign up on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-team-behind-the-team-tickets-146474080919
Grants of between £1,000- £10,000 are available for groups making a positive impact on arts and culture in the Birmingham City Council area. Online information sessions will take place over the coming weeks. https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/50050/culture_arts_and_heritage/1046/apply_for_arts_funding/3
The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) Dorian Fisher Memorial Prize is now open for applications. The prize offers A-level and IB students a chance to demonstrate their interest in and knowledge of economics through an essay competition with a top prize of £500 and there is also a £500 prize for the school with the highest number of entrants. The top twenty essay entries will all be invited to a special one-day event at the Institute of Economic Affairs in the autumn term. https://iea.org.uk/essay-competition/
Registrations are now open for this year’s IEA THINK conference. THINK is aimed at people under 25 and offers a chance to hear from some key names in economics, leading academics, senior politicians, commentators and journalists. Tickets for the virtual event are free: http://thinkiea.com/
Birmingham City Council has partnered with Motorpoint to offer people working in the Clean Air Zone the chance to scrap their old car and receive £2,000 credit towards a compliant vehicle, or 'mobility' credits which can be used on public transport. https://www.brumbreathes.co.uk/news/article/59/motorpoint-confirmed-as-city-council-s-partner-to-deliver-birmingham-clean-air-zone-s-scrappage-and-travel-scheme?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=
Sustrans Big Pedal is back this year and is open to schools interested in joining the UK’s biggest inter-school cycling, walking, wheeling and scooting competition which runs between 19th- 30th April https://bigpedal.org.uk/
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